CBS and Turner hired Rex Chapman to serve as an analyst during March Madness, and the move has not worked out well. On Saturday, Chapman committed an embarrassing mistake.
Chapman, a former Kentucky basketball star and veteran NBA player, was talking about Providence advancing to the Sweet 16. He mentioned their former coach, Pete Gillen, and said “rest in peace,” thinking the 74-year-old was dead.
Here’s CNN’s Rex Chapman on CBS talking about Pete Gillen’s death.
Uhm, Pete Gillen is alive and works for CBS.
pic.twitter.com/UZvHsnSMrn— Bobby Burack (@burackbobby_) March 19, 2022
“The first time since 25 years ago when Pete Gillen had God Shamgod — rest in peace, Pete Gillen,” Chapman said.
The good news is Gillen is very much alive. In fact, fans who watch college basketball regularly (unlike Chapman), know that Gillen serves as an analyst for CBS Sports Network.
Chapman corrected his error when the program returned from a commercial break. He later said on Twitter that he was thinking of Skip Prosser, who died in 2007.
Skip Prosser was where my head was. Xavier connection maybe. Lol
— Rex Chapman (@RexChapman) March 20, 2022
Both Prosser and Gillen coached at Xavier.
Chapman’s lack of knowledge about the players and programs involved in the tournament has been evident. The Gillen error was reflective of the poor quality of analysis Chapman has provided during the tournament.
